I took up Mark’s suggestion that if I love mystery manga, I should get started on 20th Century Boys, and ended up reading both 20th and 21st Century Boys over last Friday and Saturday. I was hooked on some sort of spiritual drug.
The series is exactly like a rollercoaster ride. It’s thrilling, and it keeps you wanting to come back for more. With every twist, turn and rush giving the reader a new-found sense of adrenaline. Never at one point of time did a sense of boredom linger within me. It was always the thought of “What’s going to happen next? I MUST READ ON!” that kept flowing through my mind as each chapter passed.
It’s really amazing how each and every character plays a essential role despite how huge or minute his or her role is. The cast is quite large, but not a single character gets left behind, even after death and when the story proceeds. An example would be this minor character, the daughter of the professor who worked on the devastating mecha. She was only featured in less than single chapter, yet she turned out to be a character who had quite an impact on the storyline towards the end.
The art’s anything but moe, and I actually love such art. Moe is totally overrated, and while a decent dosage of it is good, too much of it corrupts. Friend really needs to brainwash the otakus out there to go on a moe-controlled diet.
The Friend cult thing freaks me out quite an extent. Who doesn’t fear some uncanny group led by a eerie masked leader? The only thing that freaks me out more than the cult is the Hattori Ninja mask that the original Friend wore. Even the mask with the logo appears less creepy as compared to the ninja mask.
As with every series, it’s normal to have a character whom you are rooting for. In this case, I’m a supporter of both Kanna and Occho. Everyone loves Kanna, so there’s not much need to go on about her. Occho, on the other, may have lesser fans, since he’s not the main character, nor is he female. I admire how he tried to conquered his inner demons after his son’s death, and grew into a character firm in strength, both physically and mentally. Of course, all that wouldn’t have happened if he showered more attention on his family, but what’s done is done. Occho probably picked on of the best routes considering that situation.
The manga aside, there’s also the first movie of the trilogy is scheduled for release in Japan’s cinemas on 30th August.
Despite what some comments over the web state, I have this feeling that the movie is going to blow my mind away. From what I see in the trailer, it appears faithful to the original. The characters look quite like their 2D counterparts too, unlike in say, Death Note, where the only characters who actually resemble those in the manga are L and Watari. Even then, the Death Note movies are bullshit. Let’s cross our fingers and hope that this outshines every other live-action adapted from manga/anime that’s released as of yet, even if it lacks in the special effects department.
Taira Ai as Kanna
Sadly, there’s no teenage Kanna in the first film, but she’ll definitely be there in the second and third. I can’t wait to see her kick ass. As for the foremost installment of this trilogy, I’m looking forward to the scene where Kenji and his gang come together to stop the ravaging mecha.
I’m really hoping to catch it in Japan, but as reported by Gia, Singapore is one of the many countries that bought the movie rights. Still, if it runs for more than a month in Japanese cinemas, I do hope to catch it.
AHH!! KANNA IS MOE!! >_< i read the manga till……volume 15…i think.. and heard that friend’s identity only got revealed at 21 Century Boys.
And i’m looking forward to the movie too. It looks epic!
>>Sadly, there’s no teenage Kanna in the first film, but she’ll definitely be there in the second and third.
Now I’m totally looking forward to the movies~ She wasn’t in the last staff roster I saw which had seemingly everyone - including people I’m sure didn’t turn up till the future sections. I was afraid they’d completely change it to fit it into the films and I’ve heard many bad things about the Death Note movies.
>>I’m a supporter of both Kanna and Occho.
As you say, Kanna’s a given considering she has the coolest personality ever. I don’t think there’s many people out there that don’t like Otcho, either. He kicks ass and had some pretty important roles in the story. I also thought the interactions between Kenji and the guy who thought being evil was cool were interesting.
I think the only plot point I disliked was the amnesia. I’d been anticipating Kenji’s return and, while everything he did was awesome, the fact that we got an “I don’t know” after he survived seemingly impossibly irked me. If I’m recalling this incorrectly blame my memory. ^^;
Now I’m just going to wait and hope BONES or KyoAni turn it into an anime.
Tiny > Yea, Friend’s identity was revealed in 21st Century Boys. You should really complete the series.
Mark > From what I see in the trailer, the plot as of now in the movie runs parallel as the manga’s. Hopefully, it’ll keep on running on the right path and not take a turn for the worse like Death Note did.
I’m hoping for an animation adaption too. Not too sure about KyoAni doing this, but I’m definitely hoping for BONES to pick this up.
Yeah, KyoAni has dropped slightly in the ‘best studios’ list. But I’m sure whenever they get around to releasing the new Haruhi they’ll make their way back up there again. Obviously there’s no chance they’d do a long mystery series like 20CB so I just used them as an example.
I just got around to reading the Eureka Seven manga and I have to say that I hope BONES make a new E7-related anime. I don’t know whether you’ve read it but the manga makes a lot of changes from the anime and has a much better ending - although more saddening.
Yes! You’ve been converted to the wonders of 20th/21st Century Boys!
Besides BONES, I think Madhouse might do a good job too. They did pretty well with Death Note after all.
As for KyoAni, I’m still waiting for a new FMP season. They’ve been doing too much Moe.
Also, there’s a new E7 movie that was announced not too long ago, and it just might be based on the manga.
Wow….live action Kanna doesn’t look bad…I love this manga, and Kanna is one of my most favourite charatcers of all time. Can’t wait for the movies. ^^
I can’t wait!
I love Occho, even as an old man, he can still kick ass
I’m glad it’s going to be spread over three movies. It sounds unrealistic to put all those volumes into one movie.